CHAPTER TWO
"I hear there's been a call for fast Autobots," Windcharger said with a wide grin as he stepped into the Ark's hangar bay. "Well, here I am!"
Standing at the boarding ramp of the awaiting Autobot shuttle, Optimus Prime sighed and rubbed the nose-like ridge on his face. Ironhide had not been kidding when he said that most speed-loving Autobots were uncontrollable, and the impulsive Windcharger was no exception. Nonetheless, his magnetic powers could prove useful....
"Yes, Windcharger," Optimus said. "There's room for one more on the shuttle. Go ahead and get on board."
The small red and gray Autobot excitedly ran past him and hurried onto the shuttle. Optimus soon followed and closed the boarding ramp before looking at his team, which now consisted of Hot Rod, Windcharger, Arcee, and Bumblebee. The former two were certainly the most fastest but also the most reckless, while the other two were not as quick but certainly more level-headed. Optimus could only hope that they would balance each other out.
"Teletraan One, we're ready for lift off."
"Acknowledged," the Ark's computer responded. "Autobot shuttle Omega Delta launching from hangar bay seven-four-seven."
Arcee and Hot Rod quickly took seats at the controls as the shuttle's engines ignited and started to leave the hangar. Once it was out, the shuttle began to make its way towards Velocitron.
As they waited for the shuttle to make its passage, Bumblebee turned to Optimus and said, "You think the Velocitronians are still testy from the Asphalt Wars?"
Optimus Prime sighed. "If I knew, Bumblebee, I would be able to answer that. But I'm afraid we won't know until we've landed."
"Velocitronians aren't up on weapons, are they?" Windcharger asked. "So we don't need to worry about getting shot down, right?"
"It's been nearly three hundred years since the Asphalt Wars. Who knows what they've cooked up over time."
Once the Autobot shuttle had made its way through Velocitron's dusty atmosphere, it was immediately hailed by a security tower down below.
"Unidentified shuttle, identify yourselves and state your business," a bored voice said.
"This is Autobot shuttle Omega Delta, requesting permission to land," Optimus said. "I would like to speak with your leader- or leaders- regarding recent tensions."
"Tensions, eh? Who is this speaking?"
"Optimus Prime, Supreme Commander of the Autobots."
"Ah. Figures." A few minutes later, the voice said, "All right, Omega Delta, you've got permission to land in sector 5-7. Have a nice day."
As the shuttle followed the provided coordinates, Bumblebee gave Optimus a concerned look. "Is it just me, or does that 'have a nice day' have a foreboding feel to it?"
Optimus paused before speaking. "Here's hoping it's just you...."
* * *
Talk about timing. Makeshift smiled to himself as he watched the Autobot shuttle fly alongside his own vessel towards Velocitron. Luckily, thanks to his ship's cloaking shield, the Autobots wouldn't be able to detect him; nor would the Velocitronians down below.
Landing his camouflaged ship on the outskirts of a Velocitronian city, Makeshift stepped off of it and instantly ran into a native of the Speed Planet. Their optics widened in fear.
"Wh-what the-? How did you appear out of thin air like that?"
The Decepticon spy smiled. "I wouldn't worry about it too much."
Before the bot could respond, Makeshift converted his arm into a blade and stabbed the Velocitronian through the chest, extinguishing their spark. He then dragged the corpse onto his invisible ship and soon reemerged with the deceased bot's appearance.
After taking a moment to admire his new form, he converted into a yellow motorcycle and drove into the city.
* * *
This was their last stand.
Ultra Magnus could not deny it as firepower rained down from the Decepticon ships, destroying whatever was left of Iacon and tearing apart the damaged Fortress Maximus. They had little to no means to withhold the attack; their defeat was ensured.
"I suppose it's too late to ask Omega Supreme for help, eh?" Wing Saber asked as he and Kup stood beside Ultra Magnus.
"I doubt even he could take down that many Decepticon ships," Kup muttered. "So what will it be? Destruction or surrender?"
"If we surrender, we'd be admitting defeat," Wing Saber said. "I'm not sure if I'd be able to live with that."
"So we die," Ultra Magnus murmured. "Not exactly the most appealing prospect."
"Then I say we make it appealing by making our stand. I'll lead the Aerialbots on an aerial attack run."
Magnus nodded. "Very well. Kup, rally out strongest Autobots to establish ground defense."
"Consider it done," Kup said. "And where will you be?"
Ultra Magnus looked up and narrowed his eyes at the Decepticon ship leading the bombardment. "I will be taking my chance to lop off an empire's head."
* * *
"Think anyone spotted us?"
"Heck no," Duststorm snapped at Landfall as she and the rest of the team disembarked from their dropship. "The bombardment was supposed to detract their attention from us. Besides, Virtue's Forum is nothing but ruins. Who'd be paying attention to that?"
"Either way, we have to make this quick," Nightracer said. "Crasher, do your thing."
The black and white Decepticon grinned wickedly as she activated the seismic energy dischargers in her feet and began to rapidly stomp the ground. Cracks quickly started to form before the ground gave way, revealing an underground entrance.
"Duststorm, scout ahead," Nightracer ordered.
Before the gold and purple femme could do so, a rocket suddenly shot up from the hole and quickly dropped down towards the five Decepticons, who quickly scattered for cover. Once it had exploded, they got back to their feet in time to see the source of the rocket emerge from the entrance.
"I was gonna ask you how you'd found us," Roadbuster said. "But then I realized that I don't give two shakes of a turbofox's tail."
And then he and the rest of the Wreckers attacked.
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